Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

Building a Housing Ladder of Opportunity - Homelessness Strategypathways for key cohorts of offenders assists partner agencies to addressthese behaviours with individuals.Annual Lettings Plan2.11 The 2010/11 Annual Lettings Plan to date set aside a quota of homes for needgroups such as children leaving care; people with supported housing needswho require accommodation in order to leave temporary supportedaccommodation; and the homeless themselves. In certain situations, theCouncil will make ‘direct’ offers to applicants, where they are unable orunwilling to ‘bid’ for homes using the Council’s choice based lettings scheme,Locata.Spring Cottage Teenage Pregnancy Unit2.12 After working closely with the Council's Teenage Pregnancy Unit a decisionwas made in 2007/08 that safe and secure housing for a number of homelessteenage pregnant women and young mothers was required. Discussions wereheld with Supporting People who agreed to set up a contract with a supportprovider and one of our hostels, Spring Cottage, was converted to set up theunit.2.13 Since its inception Spring Cottage has had almost 100% occupancy. Referralsare made from Housing Options Families team and the support providerensures move-on when tenants are able to live independently. All homelesspregnant teenagers are housed into Spring Cottage and none are left to fendfor themselves in an unsupported environment. There is 24 hour supportprovided and help is provided with welfare benefits, parenting skills, budgetingskills and independent living.Housing and Employment Project2.14 The Housing and Employment Project aimed to provide a housing andemployment function and tackle worklessness in the borough. This schemederived from the Council’s involvement with the West London Housing andEmployment link Project which received funding from the Government topromote employment across the 7 West London boroughs. The projectcomprised of two complementary service offers: the Job Brokerage Serviceand the Lone Parent Housing and Employment Initiative (LPHE):• The Job Brokerage Service provided employment-focused advice,guidance and practical support to workless residents in temporaryaccommodation. The project ran from October 2008 through to March2011• The LPHE initiative was set up to provide tailored support to the significantnumbers of unemployed lone parents living in temporary accommodationwho wanted to move into permanent housing and escape the poverty trapof long-term benefits. The scheme helped these clients find and sustainemployment from August 2008 to March 20117Page 452